Obituaries, May 1997-Dec. 1997

Obituaries, May 1997-Dec. 1997

Alan David Coston, 74, passed away in his home in Albuquerque. He was born on Oct. 4, 1921, in Salamanca, New York. A graduate of the University of Michigan, he earned master's degrees from the University of New Mexico and from New Mexico Insitute of Mining & Technology. He came to New Mexico in 1946 and taught school in Clovis and Grants. For five years he taught in Peru, where he also served as Director of Schools for Southern Peru Copper Corp. Upon his return to the United States, he taught in Quemado, NM, and for many years in Hondo, NM. He retired from teaching in 1984. He was an active member of the N.M. Democratic Party, a docent at the Museum of Natural History, and an avid Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiast. Alan was preceded in death by his wife Jane Reinert Coston and son Ricky. He is survived by brothers, Malcolm and Dean; children Virginia Taylor and husband Al, Chandler Whitford and wife Karen, Jean Jordan and husband Jim, and Prissy Coston; eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.
G. J. "Joe" Duesterberg, 82, of Kerrville, Texas, passed away on May 13, 1997. He was born on March 10, 1915, in Vencennes, Indiana, to Joseph and Agnes Duesterberg. He graduated from the New Mexico School of Mines in 1940 with a bachelor's degree in basic sciences and later that year married Mary Roxsina Noe in Santa Fe. He developed mines and mining interests in Mexico and Nevada. He is survived by two daughters, Mary R. Hayes of Kerrville, Tex., and Anne E. Baltuskonis of Richmond, Tex., six grandchildren, one great grandchild, many nieces and nephews, and one sister, Catherine Orsino of Monterrey, Calif. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1989.

Mario Pagliaro (82, BS, math) 42, succumbed to a heart attack on May 12, 1997. He had married Pat Huddleston (77, BGS) on April 25 in Deming, where Pat has been teaching chorus. Mario, resided in San Jose Calif., where he worked for Visioneer, a company making imaging equipment and software. Pat plans to move to San Jose and teach science. Pat's friends can reach her at phuddleston@zianet.com

Irvin (Vern) L. Sackett passed away in Taos, N.M. on October 29, 1997. He was a 1941 graduate of the New Mexcio School of Mines, and received the Brown Medal, the university's highest award, that year.

Vern's wife, Mary Alice, adds, "Vern had many fond memories of his years at the School of Mines, and he much enjoyed visits back to the campus to see the many changes that have taken place over the years. He especially enjoyed being able to attend the 50-year reunion of his class in 1991."

Vern was born in Wellington, Kansas, on Aug. 25, 1913. He grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho. where he graduated from high school. He attended the University of Idaho for one year, then worked in various mining operations in Idaho, Canada, and Alaska until 1937, when he came to New Mexico to attend the School of Mines. In the same year that he graduated, 1941, he also married Mary Alice Secrest.

After graduation, Vern worked in Bisbee, Ariz., for Phelps Dodge. He served as an officer in the U. S. Naval Reserves during World War II. He moved to Taos in June 1947, where he established two businesses, the Album Photo Shop and the Final Touch Frame Shop. The latter is still in existence. He also did extensive land surveying in Taos and surrounding northern New Mexico counties. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter Shirley Svoboda of Albuquerque, his brother Melvin of Idaho Falls, and other relatives.

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